The UK’s journey to net zero is at risk of stalling, and new analysis reveals the major obstacles to decarbonisation of the country’s commercial vehicle fleet: commercial EV charging infrastructure.
Despite increasing availability of zero-emission vans and trucks, operators face delays in grid connections at depots (up to 15 years), threatening a transition from fossil fuels, even before legislative deadlines come into effect.
According to the Association of Auto Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the current grid connection process is not equipped to support the UK’s ambitions to end sales of new non-zero emission vans and HGVs by 2035 and 2040, respectively. Without urgent reform, the UK risks lacking important decarbonisation targets.
Mike Hawes, CEO of SMMT, explained:
“But if the operator has to wait up to 15 years to allow the depot to plug in, there will be no investment cases.
“Prioritizing grid connections, along with reforms to energy cost planning and action, reduces barriers to adoption and ensures that we continue to carry the load that keeps our economy moving while commercial vehicles lift the heavy lifting that needs to reach net zero.”
Commercial vehicles: high mileage, high stakes
The UK’s commercial fleet is enormous, with 5.1 million vans and 626,000 trucks responsible for transporting more than 80% of domestic cargo, donating £13.5 billion a year to the economy.
These vehicles account for just 14% of total road traffic, but emit more than a third of all road traffic and account for 12% of the UK’s total carbon emissions.
Replacing diesel and gasoline-powered commercial vehicles with zero-emission models will save more than Sweden’s national emissions.
However, this monumental shift rests on operators, both in depots and strategic road networks, with access to reliable, scalable commercial EV charging infrastructure.
Supply increases, but demand stumbles
The manufacturer is offered on a scale, offering 35 electric van models, covering over half of the market, over 30 electric HGVs. However, the intake is lagging behind expectations.
Currently, only 8.3% of new van registrations are electricity, well below the government’s 2025 ZEV mandate target of 16%. The HGV sector is even more behind, with zero-emission trucks accounting for just 0.5% of registrations.
At this rate, the van market will only reach 25% ZEV share by 2027. Operators cite infrastructure as a major obstacle.
Affordable electricity, availability of depot charging, and reliable roadside charging are very important. Without them, even funded fleets cannot justify the operational risk of switching.
The urgent need to expand commercial EV charging
Expanding commercial EV charging is a national need for the UK. Commercial vehicles are the backbone of logistics, retail, construction and services. Unlike private EVs, they need more power, more space and a more predictable charging solution.
According to SMMT, the transition to high-speed truck grid connections for sectors such as data centers and renewable energy must be reflected in transportation.
Prioritizing Depot Grid Access, standardizing local planning policies, and expanding utility bills for heavy vehicles can unlock stall investments.
Without this, the UK risks derailing its decarbonization strategy and slowing down cleaner air, reduced emissions and the broader benefits of global EV leadership.
The road ahead
Although supported by incentives such as plug-in van grants and zero emissions HGV and infrastructure demonstrator (Zehid) schemes, infrastructure remains a weak link in commercial EV chains.
To meet future ZEV sales obligations, the government must urgently accelerate commercial EV charging rollouts and eliminate grid bottlenecks.
Time runs out, and the cost of omission counts as carbon, congestion, and less competitive.
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